Fast growing corals can quickly fill your saltwater aquarium, as long as you take care of them the right way. And it’s the best way to start this hobby if patience is not your strongest suit.
Why am I telling you this? Because, the majority of people interested in coral keeping, are in love with the idea of having a beautiful and mesmerizing reef tank as soon as possible.
No one likes to stare at empty, lifeless and to say simply, boring tank. I get that. But it’s very important to be aware that your saltwater aquarium needs to have stable parameters before you ever consider purchasing corals.
But, what if all the parameters are on point and the tank is fully cycled? What if you want a good looking coral tank as soon as possible?
In that case, you can start your journey with faster growing corals. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about these types of corals. And much more.
Without further ado let’s get started.
Contents
Fast Growing Corals To Quickly Fill Your Reef Tank
Have you ever dreamed of owning a reef tank?
A reef tank that will be the center showpiece of your living room, a reef tank that will look so good that everyone will be amazed when they see it. Now, you can have it.
And the best part?
It won’t cost you a lot. These corals are fairly inexpensive. Here are some of the fastest-growing corals that will perfectly fit in your aquarium.
Leather Corals
Leather corals are one of my favorite corals. They have an interesting appearance, they are fairly inexpensive, and most importantly they are available and can be found in almost every aquarium shop. And, of course, they are one of the fastest growing corals in the aquarium hobby. I sincerely recommend them to every aspiring reefer.
In general, leather corals are one of the hardiest corals you can ever keep. There are different varieties of leather corals you can choose from for your saltwater aquarium. One of the most popular among them is the Toadstool Leather Coral. If you are interested to learn more about this particular specimen, check out our complete guide about Toadstool Leather Coral Care.
Mushrooms
If you are interested in keeping colorful corals, yet easy to take care of, then you are going to love these species. Mushroom corals have always been one of the most popular in the aquarium trade. And why they wouldn’t be?
These almost bullet-proof corals can survive even in the worst conditions. So if you have problems keeping them, then you are doing something terribly wrong. There are different varieties of mushrooms, however, most of them have the same care requirements. If you are looking for more information check our complete guide about Mushroom Corals Care.
Green Star Polyps
You can easily say that the Green Star Polyps Coral is one of the most recognized corals in the aquarium industry. Resembling a field of grass, the GSP coral has quickly become one of the favorites among reef enthusiasts. These fast growing corals can quickly populate your tank. If you are interested in keeping these corals then check our complete guide about GSP coral care.
Pulsing Xenia
Do you want to add some movement to your reef tank? And the coral needs to be easy to take care of? Pulsing Xenia is your coral. These fast-growing corals can spread so fast, sooner than later you’ll have a problem getting rid of them. Remember that when you are thinking about purchasing a Pulsing Xenia.
Of course, if you are interested in keeping them, check out our complete guide about Pulsing Xenia Care.
How To Make Your Corals Grow Faster?
To find the answer to this question, first, you need to understand the basics of coral keeping.
The overall health of corals depends on different water parameters such as salinity, temperature, and pH. Those are the most important parameters. In addition, calcium, magnesium, and carbonates are important elements, all playing a vital role in the building of the coral skeleton.
Your aquarium is a closed system and unlike ocean waters, it has limited resources. Those resources are depleted by the corals in your tank at fast rates. That’s why is so important to maintain stable parameters in your reef tank without major fluctuations.
Does raising the PH of a reef tank significantly increase coral growth? A question that can help us understand the biology of corals, and why elevated levels of pH can rapidly increase the growth rate of the corals.
The average pH of home saltwater aquariums is approximately 7.8, however, in oceans, it is close to 8.2. These numbers can fluctuate, and depend on many various factors, however, we can surely conclude, at least in theory, that if you increase the pH in your tank your corals will grow faster. The team of BRS made an experiment and the results are pretty interesting. Here is the video, if you are interested to see it.
If you are interested to learn more about how the fluctuations of pH and oxygen saturation can affect coral growth check out this study.
Other factors can also affect the growth of the corals. The rate of growth of some corals, such as LPS corals, will mainly depend on the food source. Large Polyp Stony corals will grow faster if you feed them frequently.
Check these articles if you like to learn about other kinds of corals:
- Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia divisa): Care, Placement, Lighting
- Coral Coloration Guide: How to Enhance and Improve Coral Colors
- Hammer coral: Care, Placement, Lighting, Growth( Beginners Guide)
- Duncan Coral: Care, Placement, Lighting (Beginners Guide)
Final Thoughts
Fast Growing Corals can quickly fill your saltwater aquarium and make it look beautiful, colorful and full of life. That’s a fact. It’s the only way to have a full reef tank as soon as possible, without compromising the health of the corals themselves.
My piece of advice? Don’t rush things out!
I know the urge to fill the tank with different types of corals, all more beautiful than the other. Many beginner reefers are guilty of that thought. Me, as well.
However, as the famous proverb says:
Patience is a virtue. And in this hobby, it means everything. Not only you’ll have success with the easier corals, but you will lay the foundation for the more difficult corals coming in the future, too.
Now I like to hear from you. What’s the first coral you’ll buy for your tank?
Let me know in the comments.